PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Presque Isle adopted new rules Wednesday that will oversee the display of certain flags within the city.
With a 4-to-2 vote, councilors passed the proposed Key to the City, Flag Display and Ceremonial Guidelines Ordinance, which lays out which flags will be permitted to fly at city-owned property and how to best allow different groups representation.
Flag flying became a public issue after many residents decried the city’s decision to not raise the Pride flag above city hall during Pride Month in June after flying it last year. In public meetings, many residents supported a new flag ordinance, while others said that the city should stick with flags that represent everyone, such as the United States flag.
According to the ordinance, the city will continue flying the city, state, U.S. and POW/MIA flags at city hall, but any “special flags or banners” will be flown on the flagpole at Riverside Park, though at half-staff and never higher or larger in size than the American flag.
Special flags must be tied to a local or national event, holiday and/or a national day of remembrance. This could include heritage months such as Pride Month and Black History Month or flags recognizing awards or accomplishments, visiting groups or local organizations that are “dedicated to the public good,” according to the ordinance.
All special flags must carry a positive message and can be flown no more than two times a year and for no longer than 30 days.
The ordinance excludes flags that represent political party affiliations or candidates or any flag that a committee deems “inappropriate or offensive or those supporting discrimination, prejudice, or the oppression of others.”
Last month, the city council agreed to establish a diversity, equity and inclusion committee that will review all flag requests. Committee members will include the city manager, one city councilor and one community member at large.
Individuals or groups looking to fly a flag will need to fill out a form on the city’s website. The committee could deny requests that certain flags be flown at the same time if one flag represents a group with a history of intimidation, mental or physical abuse against another group.
People can appeal a flag decision by contacting the city manager’s office. The city council will review all appeals and their decisions are considered final.
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the role of a DEI coordinator. That position will not exist per the approved ordinance.
